GARRY JACK'S youngest son, Brandon, chose the Sherrin over the Steeden so he could emulate the deeds of his brother Kieren and on Sunday he will be one step closer to realising his AFL dream.

It may only be the pre-season competition but just over 10 weeks after being drafted onto Sydney's rookie list Brandon will make his debut for the Swans alongside his decorated older sibling when the reigning premiers launch their 2013 campaign this weekend.

In keeping with the theme of family, Xavier Richards – the younger brother of another Swans premiership hero Ted Richards – has also been picked in Sydney's squad to take on cross-town rival Greater Western Sydney and Carlton in the NAB Cup.

As youngsters, Kieren would often tease Brandon, Garry said, but as there was a seven-year gap between the pair the sparring was always of a verbal kind.

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"Kieren used to wind him up and he'd get pretty upset but it was nothing physical from Kieren's point of view – from Brandon's point of view it was," Garry recalled. "He'd snap but his older brothers wouldn't take it any further because he was so much younger. They used to torment him a bit when he was little."

At 182cm, Brandon is now taller than Kieren and also quicker. "It was interesting to see Kieren's response, I can't quote what he said, but you can see the environment they grew up in," coach John Longmire said.

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"It's a pretty competitive household I'm sure. I wouldn't like to be sitting in the lounge room caught in a wrestle between the two of them."

Brandon recently moved in with his brother in Randwick and although Kieren is not his official mentor at the Swans the pair talk often about football, Garry said.

The 18-year-old may already be faster and taller than Kieren but the Swans are under no illusions he is very much a developmental player who may not get a taste of the real stuff this season.

Brandon, who played rugby and league until he was 14, has been earmarked to play as a small forward this week, whose brief will be to hound the opposition's rebounding defenders.

"Those pressure type of players are really important," Longmire said. "Where he evolves to we're not sure yet but once again it's only the first baby steps of his career along with a number of the other blokes that will play this week.

"Being on the rookie list he's a chance [to play seniors this season]. Initially I'd say those chances might have been limited but we've been really impressed with how he's gone in the pre-season. Who knows what happens during the course of the season? It's a little bit too early to predict. We're not going to put any of those pressures on any of our kids that are coming through.

"The expectations are not for him to come in and dominate in game one but he'll get a bit of a taste of it."

So too will Xavier Richards, who will play in a key position this week though is unlikely to receive as much game time as others.

Longmire was expecting only half of the Swans' grand final 22 from last year to play this weekend though have named 16 from the 2012 flag-winning team in a 35-man squad.

Among the missing are Adam Goodes, Shane Mumford, Rhyce Shaw and Nick Smith.

Sunday's games at Blacktown will pit master coaches Kevin Sheedy and Mick Malthouse, who has returned from a year out to coach Carlton, against each other.

"Let's not kid ourselves, we play Carlton first and we want to belt them," Sheedy said. "I know Micky will be very, very wired up and ready to go. I've explained that to my players, don't think that he won't be serious on the NAB Cup – he's serious with everything he does."

Sheedy said the clash with the Swans would be a gauge as to how his young side compares with the reigning premiers.

"I don't think it'll be all that much by the end of the year," Sheedy said.